"Ecclesia, are you really just hungry?"
Seeing the Saint Mark on Ecclesia's forehead flicker on and off, Aisha couldn't help growing deeply worried.
She was clearly even more exhausted now than she had been yesterday while practicing mana-sliding.
"It's fine, I brought a Snickers bar to replenish energy! One bar can sweep away hunger!"
Chomping a big bite of chocolate, her Saint Mark power restored, Ecclesia's expression loosened a little.
"I really had to endure so much. I kept worrying that if I ate it too early, I'd digest it too fast, so I held on until right before the duel began!"
Aisha admired her. "You even know how to allocate resources. Ecclesia, you're really hardworking!"
Miles: "So why can't she just buy two bars? Or is buying two Snickers bars illegal in this country?"
At any rate, she had recovered enough to enter the field. With mana radiance at her feet, Ecclesia dashed into the track.
On the other side, Aoyao—who had never fought before—also entered the arena riding her D-Wheel.
Her blade never left her side; even while seated on the D-Wheel, the girl still kept that blue katana hanging at her waist.
As the younger sister of a Swordsoul user, Miles was very curious about what kind of Deck she would run.
"I have to pull myself together!" At the starting point, Ecclesia smacked her springy cheeks hard. "After this duel, let the senpai treat me to a big meal!"
Since his own little sister was the one dueling, Takehiko Izumi couldn't comment too much. He simply hosted the match very dutifully.
"Then, the final Turbo Duel of today! Turbo Duel! Acceleration—!"
They took off at the same time, but following Irena's guidance, Ecclesia—who relied on mana-sliding—valued stability over seizing the first turn.
After all, she had only practiced for one day. Simply not crashing was already impressive.
Besides, her Deck worked better going second.
"My turn. Draw!"
Drawing her opening card, Aoyao scanned her hand.
Though the girl was introverted in daily life, when it came to dueling, she seemed even more composed than Ecclesia.
Was this the legendary exam-type prodigy?
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position."
Aoyao threw down her first Monster Card, and the katana at her waist shimmered faint blue flames as if responding.
"Go—Shiranui Squire!"
[Shiranui Squire] Level 4│FIRE│Zombie│1500 ATK
A shrine-maiden-dressed girl, wielding a naginata, materialized on the field. Her vibrant presence hardly matched the traditional image of Zombie monsters.
"When [Shiranui Squire] is successfully Summoned, its effect activates."
"When this card is Normal Summoned: Special Summon 1 "Shiranui Spectralsword" from your hand or Deck. After this effect resolves, until the end of this turn, you cannot Special Summon monsters except Zombie monsters."
"Show yourself, Tuner of the Spectral Blade. Special Summon—Shiranui Spectralsword!"
[Shiranui Spectralsword] Level 2│FIRE│Zombie / Tuner│800 ATK
The spectral blade that housed the soul of a legendary samurai manifested slowly and settled into Shiranui Squire's hands.
Miles: "So it's Shiranui Spectralsword? These siblings really are interesting."
The elder brother used a Chinese sword; the younger sister used a Japanese one.
As he marveled, the blazing sword-light of a Synchro Summon erupted on Aoyao Izumi's field.
A classic Shiranui one-card Synchro: use the Level 2 Spectralsword and the Level 4 Shiranui Squire.
"Soul dwelling within the spectral blade, release your primordial power. Synchro Summon—Shiranui Samuraisaga!"
[Shiranui Samuraisaga] Level 6│FIRE│Zombie│2500 ATK
[Zombie Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Zombie monsters]
Through the form of the spectral blade, the samurai warrior stepped forth onto the battlefield.
"I Set 1 card and end my turn."
"My turn then, draw!"
Ecclesia drew. The Saint Mark glimmered on her forehead.
A bond-draw, obtained in just one turn.
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position—Fallen of Albaz!"
[Fallen of Albaz] Level 4│DARK│Dragon│1800 ATK
The white-haired Dragonborne youth who carried ultimate fusion power manifested beside the gliding Ecclesia.
"Is it coming? Is it finally coming?!" Ren was fired up.
"When [Fallen of Albaz] is Summoned, its effect activates!"
"If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can discard 1 card; Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters on either field as Fusion Material, including this card. This card cannot be used as Fusion Material except for this effect."
"This effect!"
Both Synchron Academy and XYZ Academy were collectively shaken.
Once again, a Fusion effect that used the opponent's monsters.
Do you Fusion Academy people simply refuse to fuse using your own monsters?
"I discard [Branded Bond] from my hand, and fuse Albaz with your Shiranui Samuraisaga!"
The ultimate fusion power burst forth. Though slightly weaker than Super Polymerization, for an unprepared Aoyao, it still caught her utterly off guard.
"Descend, blade of frozen white light! Let the extreme frost of the Phantasm Dragon freeze the heavens! Albaz Fusion Summon—Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon!"
[Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon] Level 8│DARK│Wyrm│3000 ATK
["Fallen of Albaz" + 1 Fusion/Synchro/Xyz/?? monster]
Able to fuse using monsters summoned via the three Extra Deck methods, an extremely rare Wyrm, [Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon], manifested amid a storm of white ice crystals.
Two consecutive matches confirmed another fact for all the spectators.
Fusion Academy truly was the academy that fused all summoning methods.
Quite literally fusing them—Synchro and Xyz included.
Surely this was the sight Vice Principal Raiden most wished to see.
"I did it, Headmaster!"
Gliding along the track, Ecclesia looked toward the sky. Tears trailed from the corner of her eyes, as though she could see old Raiden's gentle, aged smile in the clouds.
"Did you see this from the heavens, Grandpa Headmaster?"
Aisha: "(￣ー￣) No no no, I already said, Grandpa Headmaster is very much alive!"
'You're all building the atmosphere like this… at this rate, it would feel wrong not to assume he died.'
Wiping her tears, Ecclesia drew another card. "I can keep going!"
With Shiranui Samuraisaga used as Fusion Material, Aoyao Izumi's field was now empty—while Ecclesia could still Summon more.
"When I control a Fusion Monster that used Albaz as material, I can Special Summon [Springans Kitt] from my hand!"
"[Springans Kitt] Level 4│DARK│Beast│1700 ATK."
"Kit reporting for support!"
The adorable girl clad in heavy cannon armor leapt forth amidst the glow of her Special Summon.
With Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon plus Kit, Ecclesia's total Attack now exceeded 4000.
"We have to settle this as fast as possible." The brow beneath Ecclesia's stigmata tightened with effort. "Let's fight, Kitt!"
"Safety factor at 99%. Artillery equipment, fully deployed. We can go anytime, Ecclesia!"
"Then—direct attack!"
The blast from the cannon pierced straight across the battlefield, striking Aoyao Izumi on her D-Wheel.
[Aoyao Izumi, LP: 4000 → 2300]
"I'll finish this with one last hit! Direct attack, 'Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon'!"
"No." As the raging frost surged toward her, Aoyao flipped open the only set card beside her D-Wheel.
"—Trap Card, 'Shiranui Style Success'!"
[Select 1 Zombie monster in your hand and Special Summon it. If the monster Special Summoned by this effect leaves the field, banish it.]
"I Special Summon from my hand, in Defense Position, the Zombie monster 'Shiranui Spiritmaster'."
[Shiranui Spiritmaster, DEF: 0]
"Trying to create a shield through Special Summon? That's the one thing I'm not afraid of!"
Ecclesia countered by activating an effect of her own.
"I activate the effect of 'Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon'!"
[Once per turn (Quick Effect): Send 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck to the Graveyard that lists 'Fallen of Albaz' as material; banish 1 monster on the field. This card cannot use this effect again until your next turn.]
"I send 'Titaniklad the Ash Dragon' from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard, and banish 'Shiranui Spiritmaster'!—'Blizzard of the Iceblade'!!"
Frost and flames collided—life-or-death impact erupting in the very first turn of the Turbo Duel.
"I won't let you one-turn kill me." Fire curled around Aoyao's fingertips as her banished card glowed. "When 'Shiranui Spiritmaster' is banished, its effect activates!"
[If this card is banished: Target 1 face-up card your opponent controls; destroy it.]
"I destroy your 'Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon'!"
The clash of ice and fire ended in mutual destruction. After the exchange, only Kitt remained on Ecclesia's field, waiting helplessly for backup.
"Ugh… she blocked me?"
Her presence was usually low-key, but as someone assigned by Fusion Academy for the final day, Aoyao's ability was unquestionable—she was a hidden trump card.
And with the gap between first- and third-years, even an unexpected Albaz Fusion couldn't reasonably OTK Aoyao.
The failed OTK, the mutual exchange of resources—this should have been the natural rhythm of a duel.
Yet, Ecclesia's breathing grew heavier, her chest rising and falling as her expression tightened with pain.
Miles suddenly realized, "Ecclesia… something's wrong!"
The signs had appeared since yesterday. Her condition wasn't just hunger like she claimed.
The stigmata—the X-shaped mark on her forehead—was fading, and in the middle of speeding along the track, Ecclesia's consciousness flickered.
"No…" The worst scenario, which Ecclesia had tried to avoid, had come to pass. "Has the Order Church… fallen after all?"
From the start, Ecclesia had sought out Aisha and come to the Axet Republic to escape the Order's influence in Livorden.
Regardless, the worst still happened. Centered on the obelisk sealing Obelisk the Tormentor, the darkness of the Western Deadlands had spread across the western kingdom.
"Damn… I thought I could at least hold out until this duel ended… I'm sorry, senpai…"
In the heartbeat before she completely lost consciousness, the stigmata on Ecclesia's forehead vanished.
"Danger!"
Aoyao, Ecclesia's opponent, immediately noticed her collapse.
At high speeds, even if someone crashes, their body usually reacts to protect itself—like Lost, who'd tumble across the ground to disperse impact.
Nonetheless, losing consciousness mid-ride meant no protection at all. Falling at this speed was deadly.
There was no time to think of the duel. Aoyao slowed her D-Wheel, moved behind Ecclesia, balanced herself with one hand, and grabbed Ecclesia's wrist with the other.
However, Aoyao had underestimated… drastically underestimated the weight of Ecclesia's small-looking body.
Instead of pulling Ecclesia up, she herself was dragged off the D-Wheel.
Still, a conscious rider embracing an unconscious one during a fall was far safer than Ecclesia falling alone.
Rolling across the ground at high speed, Aoyao shielded Ecclesia tightly, and the two finally reached the ground without severe injury.
The third day's final Turbo Duel ended with this unexpected turn.
Inside Synchron Academy's infirmary, the Fusion group gathered around a dazed Ecclesia.
"I'm sorry, Aisha-senpai. I asked you to bring me here, but in the end… I was useless."
Having returned to normal from her Saint Vessel state, Lishia's voice was filled with guilt.
Since the duel was interrupted due to Lishia's condition, and she couldn't continue, the final match was ruled a loss for Fusion Academy.
Which meant that entering the last day of the finals, none of the three academies held a point lead.
Aisha gently touched Lishia's forehead. "It's not your fault, Lishia. I didn't notice your condition either. Rest well, okay?"
"I hope… after one night's rest, I can recover. The last day's duels are really important. I have to pull myself together…"
Even lying in bed, Lishia was still worried about the final battles.
And she had reason to. Fusion Academy only had Aisha and Lishia left with one duel each.
All three academies were still tied.
Which meant… on the last day, whichever academy wanted to claim victory had to win two duels in a row.
If Lishia couldn't duel, even if Miles won his match, they would lose the championship.
"No." The Millennium Puzzle glowed, and the hand on Lishia's forehead switched—from Aisha to Miles.
"Miles… senpai?"
"Lishia, you don't need to duel tomorrow. With your body like this, it's too dangerous. Please just rest."
And there was something Miles didn't say aloud.
Without her Saint Vessel state, Lishia couldn't use Albaz's fusion power at all.
Sending her to duel in this state… if she faced the Polar Gods or the infinite Divine Serpent Geh, she'd be annihilated.
In the worst case, her weakened body couldn't withstand the pressure of a God Card—it could cost her life.
Lishia herself understood. In her condition, even if she fought tomorrow, she'd just be throwing the match.
"Then what about tomorrow's finals?" Her voice trembled, tears rising. "If I can't fight… then everything senpai have fought for until now… it'll all go to waste… I don't want that… I don't…!"
Lishia had watched Fusion Academy fight with everything they had. Win or lose, they fought their hardest. They had finally reached the decisive final day… only for her to hold them back.
Letting the team's hopes collapse because of her… the guilt was enough to crush anyone, especially a young girl like Lishia, who burst into tears.
"Don't blame yourself, Lishia," Irena comforted her. "You already did so much. Without you suppressing the magic stone leyline on day one, we might not even be here now."
"Friendship comes first, competition second," Ren added. "And hey, we already fulfilled Vice Principal Raiden's wish by using both Xyz and Synchro. Even if we don't get the championship, we can still walk back with heads held high~"
They were all good people—none of them would ever blame Lishia.
Maybe it was fate that Fusion Academy wasn't meant to win this championship.
Albeit inside the words everyone didn't say, there was a feeling all of them shared silently.
They wanted to win. So badly.
Having fought this far to reach the final battle, of course, they wanted to win. To surrender before fighting—no one would accept that.
Last year's Inter-Academy Ranking War had ended the same: Fusion was one step away from victory, but still missed the championship. As if a curse clung to "Fusion."
"A curse, huh…" Miles murmured.
…
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the same infirmary, Fusion Academy's side—
A man unwrapped his bandages and under Misaki's astonished gaze, put on his black coat and reignited the Spirit Eyes on his arm.
"Those injuries… healed fully in just two weeks? This is… a miracle."
Based on her medical expertise, he should have needed at least three weeks of rest, even for a young man.
Despite that, the man before her had pulled it off through sheer will—his obsession transforming into impossible recovery.
"No, no—this isn't something willpower alone can achieve!" Misaki protested, her professional knowledge shaken. "Kevin, don't you dare push yourself!"
Kevin Seth—originally meant to attend the exchange program.
He had been gravely injured in the battle against the Wicked Gods, but refused to give up on coming to Synchron Academy. He had promised everyone he would arrive within three weeks.
Though Misaki said it was basically impossible, Vice Principal Raiden still submitted Kevin as the fifth substitute thanks to Irena's insistence.
"Don't worry, teacher. I'm fully recovered. And my companions are waiting. I don't have time to waste my life as a Duelist lying in bed!"
Kevin loaded his deck back into the Spirit Eyes. After dancing on the edge of death, he felt as though he had grasped a new strength.
"Wait for me, M↑i↓les!"
Without anyone else knowing, the man shouldered the final hope.
The hope of breaking Fusion Academy's championship curse.
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]